Master Cylinder Pushrod - Raising Brake Pedal

Post Thu Jul 28, 2005 5:15 pm

I would like to raise my brake pedal so that I can heel&toe on track days. At the minute, it is considerably lower than the throttle on anything more than light braking. Thing is, is there a limit to how far I can unscrew the pushrod?

I drive a UK car, sitting on the right with the master cylinder to the left, if that makes any difference.

If there is a limit, could you give a measurement (mm) as to how much exposed thread can be shown?

Thanks!

Post Thu Jul 28, 2005 8:50 pm

ajust the slack out of the linkage that runs accross the bulkhead inside the car dude

Drop the glovebox out and peek inside the back LHS corner of the dash and all will be revealed

best method..... car on flat ground, ajust until you have very slight binding when cold, then back of say 1/2 turn, works wonders.

could arge its best to ajust @ working temp to allow for temp related variances, not tried it this way TBH

keep us posted dude

Post Thu Jul 28, 2005 10:49 pm

Cheers!

Post Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:12 pm

I have the same problem. A mechanic told me how to adjust the linkage and did it for me and I have also had a go at it but I still have this problem. I have been told, by someone on the E30 Zone and also an E30 enthusiast I met, that the later cars had a different linkage that reduced this problem.

I know how you feel about heel & toe, it just doesn't work well, or if it does then it usually means that I have caught the edge of my foot on the accelerator pedal while I'm trying to brake so the accelerator pedal is half way to the floor too. That doesn't help my stopping distances though.

I hope you can get it fixed. Let us know how you go!

Aston

Post Thu Jul 28, 2005 11:35 pm

I find the only way I can heel and toe is by twisting my foot anticlockwise so its diagonal (ball on brake, heel on gas.)
I can't get it to work just using the side of my foot partly for the reason you mention of pedal height difference, partly because I cant regulate the brake pressure as well, and partly because once when I did it that way my foot slipped off the brake!

Might have to try the linkage adjustment though. I also heard you can improve the brake feel by strengthening this?

Post Fri Jul 29, 2005 12:15 am

If adjusting the linkage is no good, then it may be worth changing the master cylinder.

A popular upgrade is the E30 M3 (approx 23mm cylinder), or the 25 mm master from the E32 750i. Both of these will reduce pedal travel, but will require more pedal pressure for the same amount of both of these will reduce pedal travel, but will increase padal pressure required for similar braking.

If you go for the 23mm M3 master cylinder, you will also need to change one of the brake pipes (different sized thread), but the 25mm cylinder is a straight swap.

More info here:

http://e30m3performance.com/installs/in ... c/25mc.htm

Ian.